Research Specifics: Science: Background Information

Background information sources can help you:

• Broaden or focus your topic
• Find new words to use when searching
• Locate primary research articles for your paper

Background sources are NOT primary sources and should usually not be used as references in your research.  However, some seminal works in a field can serve as references and background sources. You can always ask a librarian!

What is a background information source?

• An encyclopedia
• A textbook
• An essay database (like CQ Researcher)
• A reference book